Most Underrated Play of the Night?
My vote is the long pass play to Hemingway that set up the fumble/touchdown. The defender is literally pulling Denards jersey to the ground, but he just stands there calmly and jump throws the ball 20 yards downfield perfectly.
What a game, what a night, GO BLUE!
September 11th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^
this question all night. Hopkins was terrible, I would have much rather seen Toussaint than Hopkins run into the back of our line.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:04 AM ^
Odoms did play, not much though.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:37 AM ^
He went in for the screen TD to Smith, wearing what looked like a major bandage.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
But that doesn't rule out him being a little dinged up
September 11th, 2011 at 4:44 AM ^
September 11th, 2011 at 4:59 AM ^
I think Hoke has changed the tide on the rivalry. Hell people in Ohio are starting to believe him. Never in a million years I would have thought that. Selling Michigan jerseys is a good start.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:51 AM ^
You have a good point. In a few days post this again.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
Deja vu all over again...
September 11th, 2011 at 5:30 AM ^
That was my favorite play of the game.
September 11th, 2011 at 8:41 AM ^
15 yards of pure, unadultered FB goodness on a swing pass...1st down Michigan.
His night would've been pure gold if Robinson had glanced his way on Denard's 2nd (I think) INT. The FB wheel route was WIDE open.
September 11th, 2011 at 8:53 AM ^
was kevin dudley quality
September 11th, 2011 at 9:40 AM ^
This is my pick too. The John McClogan swing pass out of the backfield, rumbling for a first down.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:59 AM ^
If Denard can figure out how to scan the entire field quickly, WATCH OUT! There were tons of open plays that didn't connect because he was either under durress or just didn't look at the check down.
September 11th, 2011 at 8:47 AM ^
Almost every ND running play in the 4th quarter was stuffed dead!!! That's where it starts, stopping their good RB and huge line was big.
September 11th, 2011 at 8:58 AM ^
Me not spilling my beer in the last two minutes of that game....I truly impress myself.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:19 AM ^
September 11th, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
I have to agree. He was stopped short. We got a favorable spot
September 11th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^
I think the spot was dead on. It really was that close.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
ND got a ridiculous spot in the game too.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^
McColgan was the underrated player of the game. He was getting open on his routes, he was getting good blocks. If Denard had been a little less focused on going over the top for the big plays McColgan would have gotten a half dozen or so thrown his way.
The most underrated play I think was Floyd's PI on Floyd. That jersey grab to 15 yards was a great idea. He was beat and if he didn't do something it was going to be 6 points.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
People were whining, but in that situation, give up the 15, not the 6.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
right before this, it was really quiet and the ND students started chanting 'It Sucks To Be A Michigan Wolverine'. It was pretty quiet at the time and they were loud, wouldn't be surprised if the offense could hear them. It was great motivation, so thanks ND students!
September 11th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
If he runs it out, at best Gallon runs out-of-bounds w/ ~4 seconds left.
September 11th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
...than the start of the second quarter. I think our D is thriving off of pressure and the size of ND's line wasn't letting 4 get any pressure. We needed to start blitzing before it got to 0-14. Turn it up earlier please Mattison.
September 11th, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
The play in the 4th where denard is running right, near ND's 10, looks for a receiver the whole time, and right before being tackled somehow picks his way down to the one-inch line through quite a few ND defenders.
September 11th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
It was definitely almost scoring a touchdown on that last KICKOFF
September 12th, 2011 at 3:49 AM ^
1)Michigan's first stop(came in Michigan territory after a turnover), courtesy of a Brandin Hawthorne blitz that forced Rees to throw too far in front of his intended receiver. If Michigan goes down 21-0 on that drive, there might not have been enough energy left in the building to spark a comeback.
2)The throw to McColgan. Michigan gets nothing on that play, it's 3rd and 15. 3rd and long had been death all day for the Michigan offense.
3)Wile's tackle on the kickoff return following Denard's touchdown off the fumble.
I'll add one more:
1) The delay of game penalty on the Irish in the second quarter. No one heard the whistle, so the play proceeded as normal, as far as I could see, and Rees lofted a perfect pass to Riddick for a touchdown. It didn't count, and Rees threw the pick to J.T. Floyd a couple of plays later.